BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) -- Sunday morning was the opening of the new Brunswick Novant Medical Center off of Highway 17. At 7 a.m. 24 patients began being transported from the old Brunswick Community Hospital to the new state of the art facility.

"It's a wonderful transition to come over here," said Brunswick Novant Medical Center Chief of Staff Mark Tillotson."Basically we've gone from a hospital that had pretty much worn out it's ability to take care of the people to a 107 million dollar structure. The way I see it the people of Brunswick County basically hit the lottery."

Elaine Frye was one of the first patients in the new hospital. After being transported from Brunswick Community she has noticed some major differences from private rooms to flat-screen televisions. She says the most important thing has not changed.

"As far as patient care is concerned it's still the same. It was very good there and it's very good here," said Frye.

"The staff is still excellent," added Tillotson. "The hospital has some of the highest quality ratings in the state, so you'll have the same quality of care but you'll just have it in a much nicer facility."

This hospital is more than triple the size of the old one and with 78 total beds it should meet the needs of a growing county.

"It's really a wonderful opportunity for the people of this county to have this facility. Certainly we don't want people to get sick but when they do we'll do everything we can to take very good care of them," said Tillotson.

The 24 transported patients from the old hospital included a one-day old girl named Ava.

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